TENNIS in DEPTH.

Novak Djokovic won the Barclays Dubai Championships final, defeating Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 5-7 6-3.

The defending champion, who led 7-5 2-0 on Saturday when rain forced the players off the court for a second time, was taken to a third set before seeing off his Russian opponent.

World number three Djokovic was far from his best but the Serbian – winner of the 2008 Australian Open – prevailed on a day when there were seven breaks of serve in 19 games.

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The final of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships between Novak Djokovic and Mikhail Youzhny will resume on Sunday after rain halted play.

Defending champion Djokovic was leading 7-5 2-0 when rain forced the players off the court for a second time on Saturday.

Play had initially been suspended in the first game of the second set and Djokovic just had time to hold serve and then break his Russian opponent before another downpour.

The Serbian had earlier taken a rollercoaster first set with his third break of serve, and fifth in total, as Youzhny served at 5-6 down.

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Novak Djokovic was again forced to battle from a set down to seal his place in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships at the expense of Marco Baghdatis.

In what has proved a tricky tournament for seeds, the world number three was on the brink of elimination in the second round against compatriot Viktor Troicki and again in the quarters against Ivan Ljubicic.

He was again once more in a tricky spot today when Baghdatis claimed the opening set of their semi-final.

But the Serbian hit back to seal a 6-7 (2/7) 6-3 6-4 win and a place in the final against Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny.

Djokovic struggled for rhythm in the opening set, serving five double faults, and was a break down in the second, but took control from there to progress.

Seventh seed Youzhny earlier beat Jurgen Melzer of Austria in two tough sets to book his final place.

The key moment came at 5-5 in the first set, when Melzer slipped to 0-40 on serve and, although he saved two break points, Youzhny converted at the third attempt.

He went on to take the second on a tie-break for a 7-5 7-6 (7/4) win.

“It was a tough match,” he said on www.atptour.com. “It was really close for both players.

“I think Jurgen played really well today. He was aggressive. He won a lot of good points. So for me it was really tough.”

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Defending champion Novak Djokovic rallied past Ivan Ljubicic 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 Thursday to advance at the Dubai Championships.

Djokovic was down a set and 4-4 against former finalist Ivan Ljubicic, who had 14 aces. But Djokovic won the next eight games and wil play Marcos Baghdatis in the semi final.

“After losing the first set comfortably, I tried to hold my serve,” Djokovic said. “I knew that at a certain point he’s going to miss (a) couple of first serves, and that was my chance. “

In the other semi final Jurgen Melzer will face seventh-seeded Mikhail Youzhny, who beat Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4.

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Robin Soderling secured the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament title in Rotterdam after Mikhail Youzhny was forced to retire hurt.

The 2009 French Open finalist, who had yet to get beyond the first round in a tournament this year, took the first set 6-4 as he won all three of the break-point opportunities he created.

The Swede then moved into a 2-0 lead in the second set only for his Russian opponent, who had knocked top seed Novak Djokovic out in the semi-finals, retire due to a wrist injury that had forced him to withdraw from his third-round clash against Lukasz Kubot at the Australian Open.

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Robin Soderling will attempt to become the first Swedish winner of the ABN Amro indoor tournament in nearly two decades after an upset 7-6, (3) 6-4 victory over second-seeded Nikolay Davydenko in the semifinals on Saturday.

Anders Jarryd’s win in 1993 was Sweden’s last.

Davydenko fought back from 5-2 down to force a first set tiebreak, which went Soderling’s way after the Russian double-faulted. It was Soderling’s first career tiebreak win over Davydenko.

A break in the ninth game of the second set ensured victory for third-seeded Soderling, who lost the 2008 final to Michael Llodra.

“It’s always tough, he is the best returner on the whole tour,” said Soderling. “I very happy to beat one of the best players in the world.”

Soderling plays Mikhail Youzhny in Sunday’s final, after Youznhy surprised Djokovic with a 2 set, 2 tie breaker win 7-6, 7-6.

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Top seed Novak Djokovic breezed into the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Switzerland’s Marco Chiudinelli.

Djokovic dominated throughout and could have won even more convincingly, the world number two converting just three of the 14 break points he created.

Sixth seed and 2007 winner Mikhail Youzhny was also untroubled as he ended the impressive run of Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan, winning 6-4 6-4.

Youzhny will face fourth seed Gael Monfils in the last eight after the Frenchman beat local favourite Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-2 in an hour and 16 minutes.

“The next match will be very tough against Monfils,” said Youzhny, who has won both their previous meetings. “I am still recovering after my (wrist) injury, trying to get better with every match, so we will see.”

Frenchman Julien Benneteau set up a quarter-final clash with third seed Robin Soderling after beating Germany’s Michael Berrer 6-4 6-4.

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